Wednesday, September 03, 2008

censorship

This one ain't coming off. Consider this my last post for a while. I think that there are a lot of people in publishing who are hypocritical. It's fine to make trashy teen books full of sex without consequences, but god forbid anyone post a painting of a nude figure. It's fine to have books about puberty for children... just as long as no one actually looks at any of them and notices that there are nude figures drawn on the inside.

What's sad about the video above is that it's clearly one woman doing the complaining... and she got what she wanted. Even if the rest of the darn city thought the statue was beautiful, they became the unimportant voices. I think that's sad.

As SB says, "don't let the Turkey's get you down".If everyone with any common sense gave up, the weirdo's would win in this world.I remember once having to change a "cartoon" dog's body posture from that of sleeping on his back, legs up in the air (as they do, at least as mine sometimes does) to that of sleeping on his side. It was for a little scholastic ed book and the reasoning was, the open belly exposes the area where a doggies "privates" would be, if they were drawn there, which of course, they were not. I use this story in my talks with kids at schools and libraries, the grade ones think it's hilarious:)Unfortunately adults run the world!

Meghan, I know I'm probably one of the hypocritical people in publishing you're refering to, but for me, it's all about putting things in context, not about censorship. I expect nudity in art, I don't mind innocent little kid nudity in picture books, but if I were to open a picture book and see a close-up painting of adult genitalia, then I'm sorry, I'd be shocked and feel that it was inappropriate. This blog is different, though, because it is meant for adult readers, creators and lovers of children's books, but I think certain content must be put into context, that's all.

Readers of children's books expect a certain level in terms of language and content, and that's different from "trashy teen books" versus picture books, versus middle grade novels. Our loyal blog readers know to expect the unexpected in your posts, but new readers do not, and that's why it may be a turnoff to come to a blog that heavily focuses on picture books to see images they weren't expecting. Your posts are so full of energy and hilarity and are thought-provoking and touching and fun. I want readers to stick around to discover that!

If you need a break, take a break, but don't stay away too long! We will all miss your posts.

I do agree, as Alvina said, that in this case its all about context. Its confusing if readers are used to seeing one thing, and then get something very different. My sense is that was the basis of the objection, though of course I could be wrong.

It is interesting, but what I find disturbing in the David clip is not the nakedness but rather the gleeful news anchors bantering about the story. As if this is really news. So much of televised local news has deteriorated to this kind of thing.

But what does it have to do with the topic of this blog? "seven children's book professionals discuss their lives in books."

The clip has to do with art (which books/writing/illustrating are) and with censorship (which also occures with books) True, the blog often takes a turn from the professionals lives in books, not just this post, it's often about food, vacations etc but everything we experience will have an effect on what we produce, so it's all relevant (plus more interesting then JUST book talk:)

I posted it because I was trying to make a point about sensorship (see my post/removal of the nude painting). Obviously the point was missed to some.

Anyway, everything I do as a person seeps into what I do as an artist. Our topics run the gamut. If all we really did was talk about book creation I'm sure we'd run out of stuff to say... plus the blog would be boring.

What is really awful about this is it has occured in Canada, where I really didn't expect to have it happen. The woman who stated "it's just not what I want to see first thing in the morning".... well, she has issues, as it's not a bad way to start the day, as far as I'm concerned:)

In the tradition of theRed Rose Girls, a group of children's book professionals (authors, illustrators, an editor, and one former librarian) discuss everything kidlit related; from industry news and the ever-changing world of publishing to the creative process with all its frustrations and inspirations. Please join us in the discussion!

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The opinions expressed on this blog are not affiliated with our respective publishers or employers, nor should they be seen as a representation of the companies we work for or with. The individual opinions expressed on this blog also do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other contributors to this blog.